I can’t believe it’s January 2018 already. The beginning of the year is exciting. We are all intention setting, planning, and dreaming. As we settle into envisioning the life we want to create, it is vital that we look within. What are the places within me, that are blocking my dreams.

Nature provides us with a perfect guide for beginning a dream. In the winter, many plants pull their energy in until spring. Animals get all hunkered in for the winter. Without that time within, the azaleas wouldn’t bloom, baby bears couldn’t be born, Oaks couldn’t make more acorns….

As we honor the cycles of nature in the world (without), we are called to honor those cycles within. This is the perfect time of year to really get to know yourself, the parts you like, the parts you don’t, even the parts you have yet to acknowledge. It seems that no matter how long we have been on our path, there is always more to discover, more to heal, more places to evolve and grow.

Remember as each of us heals, we are evolving the Whole. I have a friend who says she “wants to save the world from her ego”. I love this saying, because it means that the most important thing in her life is her own personal healing and growth. The biggest gift we can give the world is ourselves; living the highest potential possible, always striving to grow, evolve and allow Love to live us.

Know that you are not alone on this journey within. If you find a place within that feels too big, too painful or too whatever… reach out. We have a huge community of spiritual healers, therapists, awakened friends. Another perspective can often help, an open heart and a listening ear always helps and energetic assistance is amazingly powerful. Remember we were not created to do this alone but in community, in relationship, in unity.

Until we meet again, I wish you warm cozy profound moments of self-exploration and many dreams come true in this year!

Guilt has been coming up for so many of us lately. As we live in the energies of the recent solar eclipse for the next several months we are being asked to look at our shadow sides or the parts of ourselves that we would rather not be there. I decided I would look up the official definition of guilt; it is defined as “the fact of having committed a specific or implied defense”. And there are times when each of us has felt guilty for something that we have done or not done or that we wish we could do differently. I think this is a human emotion to encourage living in integrity. Guilt is however an emotion to be experienced, not lived in.

The dictionary also had an informal definition of guilt, used as a verb; “make (someone) feel guilty, especially in order to induce them to do something.” So often we have been taught by life to feel guilty for so many things, in ways that do not really make sense, logically. How many of us can look back at family history and see that guilt was the weapon of choice used by so many families for generation after generation. Or can look back and see that the choices made from guilt lead us to dark, heavy, difficult experiences.

The reality is that no matter how we experience guilt, it can keep us stuck. Let’s look at how that works. Guilt is a lower vibrational feeling. So, when we allow ourselves to sit down in guilt, to become overwhelmed by regret or shame, we are lowering our vibration. Which keeps us from being able to see from a higher perspective, making it much more difficult to find the momentum of change and growth.

These heavy energies can get stuck on our emotional bodies and cause a host of physical and mental challenges. Because guilt is an emotion that is experienced in the moment, when guilt becomes a way of life it manifests as depression, shame, unworthiness, self-sabotage and more. When we repeatedly feel guilty for our thoughts, feelings, opinions or actions; we begin to question our own agency or ability to make valid choices, our worthiness to be loved and accepted, our value.

Guilt and shame is also a tool used by the mind (or ego) to keep things the same, safe, comfortable and familiar. Yes, even though guilt is an uncomfortable feeling, it is known, we know what to expect and what is expected from us…. The reason our minds want us to stay the same is because change is unknowable, uncomfortable, even scary.

The truth is that everything always changes. Nothing ever stays the same. You and I are not the same people we were yesterday. The “idea” that things stay the same is just that, an idea. An illusion created by the mind.

As many of my fellow “Seekers” have experienced, healing, transformation, spiritual growth seems to draw us; it seems to be woven into the fabric of reality; calling our names, beckoning us to surrender to the flow of love that creates the universe through us, as us. If everything changes, why not put our intention and focus on changing in a way that will best serve ourselves and the world.

Working with and letting go of guilt will cause change, it will allow for higher vibrational energies. Those higher vibes will encourage us to see from a higher perspective, from a place of love and compassion, for ourselves and others. Letting go of guilt even seems to deepen the connection to our authentic selves, allowing for a redefining of values, relationships and self-worth. Stepping out of guilt allows for being more present, more open, more at peace and more joy.

As I have walked my own journey I found 5 stones that are helpful in releasing and transmuting guilt.

Peridot –opens, cleanses and activates the heart and solar plexus chakras and releases old hurts, wounds and guilt. It is a stone of compassion. Teaches to detach from outside influences to look within for guidance. Peridot encourages doing the work to release patterns and old vibrations so that a new path or direction can be found. It has a friendly energy and is excellent for healing. It enhances confidence and assertiveness, balanced by patience and clarity of thought.

Larimar – Spiritually empowering, dissolving boundaries that constrain the spiritual self and guiding to the soul’s true path. Larimar removes self-imposed blockages, dissolves self-sabotaging behavior, especially a tendency toward martyrdom. It is particularly helpful with removing guilt and fear while healing trauma to the heart. When moving through periods of stress or change, it enables meeting challenges with balance. Larimar is a stone of clear communication, provides strength and courage to speak openly from the heart.

Chrysocolla – gives renewed strength and balance. Calms, cleans and reenergizes all the chakras and aligns them with the divine. Draws out guilt and reverses destructive emotional programming. Heals heartache and increases the capacity to love. Improves communication, encourages growth and opens psychic vision. Encourages self-awareness and inner balance. Enhances personal power and creativity.

Chiastolite – Cross Stone – a powerful protective stone. Dissolves illusions, clears feelings of guilt, stabilizes emotions and calms fears, enabling you to face reality. Aids in transition from one situation to another and with releasing unhealthy patterns and conditioning. Aids with problem solving by strengthening analytic capabilities. Assist in tuning into soul’s purpose. Aid in changing negative energy into positive, and fosters harmony and peace. Stimulates and energizes the root chakra as well as the crown chakra. This energy will then aid the activation of both the earth chakra below your feet and the soul star chakra above the head.

Sodalite – instills a drive for truth and an urge toward optimism making it possible to remain true to yourself and stand for your beliefs. It eliminates confusion, fear and guilt. it encourages rational thought, objectivity, truth and intuitive perception together with verbalizing feelings. Sodalite stimulates releasing habitual thoughts, behaviors and limiting beliefs. It also fosters knowledge, logic, rationality, efficiency, learning, consciousness, communication and wisdom.

May these amazing crystals be helpful to you on your journey to transmute guilt, shame and regret.

I have run across this issue several times in the past week, so I thought I should talk to you about it! You can use this tip for any wood that you hold as sacred or special.

The wood, especially the driftwood and Ayahuasca, needs to be nourished. I use paste wax but you can also use coconut oil. Paste wax is “old timey” furniture polish. Just use a soft cloth to apply a light coat to the wood (be careful not to get it on the feathers) and leave it over night. The next day take a soft cloth and gently wipe off any excess. Your wood will be shiny and showing off it’s beautiful colors.

For Madre Ayahuasca, some of her bark is ruff; I use a cheap tooth brush to get the wax down in her crevices and it really lets her flower stand out!

You can also use your driftwood or Ayahuasca as an essential oil diffuser. Just put a drop of your fave on the wood and you’ll be enjoying all day.

Until next time, Journey well my friends! Much Munay!

Autumn

P.S. I am collecting pics of Journeyers and their wands, rattles, fans for a gallery on my site. It could be you using your tool, wearing it, your tool on your alter or from it’s own personal photo shoot, all are welcome. Email me at aaustin@journeytherewands.com

I was speaking to the rose bush about how well she is doing this year and how happy I am that she isn’t struggling like last year. And she said, I wasn’t struggling; I was building my foundations, my root system so that they could support all the beauty I have to share with the world.

She shared that we, you and I, must do our root chakra work now a little differently; as we are evolving our chakra system is evolving and the markers of healthy chakras are evolving. For us to hold the energies, intentions and actions that will change the world, we must make sure our foundation, our root is strong. Our root system will continue to grow as we evolve, as we step more fully into our personal power, we must have a firm foundation, rooted in spiritual principles.

Humility – Remember that the depth is not separate from the surface. Each being in creation is but an individual expression of the Divine. No one is more important, special… than another. Each is necessary, needed and uniquely gifted and guided. The wisdom of your Namaste is often lost; the truth is, I am another you. The rose asks us to stand in a place of allowing the Divine to flow through us anew in each moment. Surrendering who we thought we were and opening to who we are in each moment. Just as the rose bush surrenders her wilted petals to allow for the next expression of beauty….. Read more at http://thecouncilsoflight.blogspot.com

As we open to the transformational energies that are being ushered in, the beautiful pink full moon reminds us to release what no longer serves. Reminding us that letting go is followed by a filling up.

Last night Mama Killa, our beautiful moon, was full; drawing us near, filling us with awe and wonder. A symphony of crickets, frogs, hoots, pups and the crackle of the fire provided a healing, cleansing, upgrading melody from Pacha Mama, Mother Earth. A Light Language song from a Blue Star came through to add to the magic.

So, if you feel called, settle in, allow the sounds to carry you inward and be open to revelation, insight and the Love that is always closer than close.

It is with a heavy heart that I write this. So much pain, fear, hate in the world today. So much seperation. Yet beyond that sadness, I can feel Hope. Hope that Love can, will, has to overcome. That We, humans, have the ability to reach a place of Higher Consciousness. That we can live in a place where all life is sacred, where all of creation is intrinsically connected and divinely unseperable.

MLK’s quote keeps coming to mind lately….”I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality… I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.” Martin Luther King Jr.

Remember, darkness can not chase out darkness. WE, you and I, have to be the light. We need to be the change we want to see. We are the one’s we have been waiting for. We can wish others would change. But the only place we can really affect change, serious change is with in. Einstein said that “no problem can be solved from the same consciousness that created it”. When we react from fear, sadness, hate we are just perpetuating the problem.

We have to live from a place of Love. A place of wisdom and understanding that we are all connected. We are all brothers and sisters. We all carry the consciousness of Divinity within us. It is our mission here on earth today to let that Higher Consciousness guide our steps.

Let us bring peace to all the situations we encounter. Let us bring our wholehearted intention to evolve. Let us relate to each other by deeply listening, letting go of what we think we already know and be open to what we may learn, see, sense together. Let us get to know the shadow parts of our selves so that we can bring our whole selves to the mission of bringing heaven to earth. And let us each take full responsibility for ourselves. Let us hold each other and ourselves accountable for our actions, our choices, our life. Most of all we have to work to stay out of the stories, out of the past and be present with everything that is right here, right now.

My prayer today is that each of us will be the sun rising at daybreak in a world that seems lost in the starless night.

When someone we love is angry with us. Or experiencing emotions we don’t quite understand. Or has pulled away. We have choices.

One choice is to continue loving them. Believing in them. Holding space for them. Yes, we feel our own feelings. We honor that we are sad or hurt. And we nurture ourselves through those feelings. But despite what we are feeling, we remember we love them. We let ourselves see who they really are, the very reason we love them. And we recognize that they are going through something. That something is part of their processs. Part of their Becoming. So we take a deep breath and we love…

Lets be clear, holding space doesn’t mean we are approving of the other’s behaviors. Just that we are letting go. Holding a vision for the Highest Good of all involved. That we have enough wisdom to remember that we ourselves have done, felt, said things that we later could see were not in alignment with who we want to be. Holding space means we understand that being human is sometimes difficult and that sometimes life is hard. Holding space means that we understand that each of us has lessons about living to learn. And that some of us learn quickly and others of us have to take more difficult paths. And most importantly, I think, holding space means we stay out of judgment and reaction. That we do the inner work that allows us to be at peace while we are experiencing difficult or painful situations.

The other option often feels much easier, because it is comfortable, we are familiar with it. Used to it. We let the others behavior become part of our story. (When I speak of “story” I am speaking of the things we tell ourselves about who we are and how the world sees us) What that means about us. What that means about them. What others might think about us. And the story grows. And the feelings about the story grow. And the story, the one we just made up in our head, becomes our truth. When it actually may not be based in reality at all. When it’s really only one possibility in a magnificent ocean of possibilities.

And I wonder, is the story really just an escape route from feeling the original feelings and looking at our selves; a bypass around the work we need to do on ourselves to evolve. What part did I play in this? Where do I need to grow or change? Why am I reacting this way? Do I need to set boundaries or is it time for my boundaries to change? Am I being called to act from a Higher Perspective? Am I being asked to trust or surrender or forgive?

If we react to the situation, we may be losing an opportunity to evolve, to raise consciousness, to be the change we want to see. If we react we may cause harm to the other. We may burn bridges that we don’t want to burn. We may slip into depression or withdraw. Because when we react, we are reacting from a place of hurt. That place that Eckhart Tolle calls the pain body, holds all of the hurts from the past. So reacting from that place of hurt causes our reaction to be bigger and stronger than is often appropriate. And reacting from there reinforces the subconscious belief that I am not responsible for my actions, my feelings and my choices.

It’s hard to be open, honest and vulnerable with ourselves!! That’s were growth, evolution beings. And it feels like “holy cow! Now I have to do what!” But when we see things happening over and over in our life, we have to go within. And find the lesson. Then, once we have taken an honest look, we can be grateful for the teacher.

Sitting outside, connecting with Pacha Mama, on this 60 degree February morning, marveling at the first glimpses of spring starting to peek out. When a crow caught my attention, cawing, as if to say transformation is at hand. My first thought was Great Spirit let it be with ease and grace please! And I immediately heard… Why don’t you just choose the easier way, just let go and trust.

Wow! Right? What if I just take the next step that is in front of me? Rather than trying to find another way. Or worrying about “what ifs”. Or concerning myself with how that person might feel or what might happen there. What if I /we just trusted; trusted our self, trusted Spirit.

What if the ease and grace comes from our decisions, our choices. Choosing to stay connected, choosing to follow the nudging and synchronicities. Choosing to let go of things that are not good for us, the people, situations, past hurts, resentments…. Maybe the struggle, the suffering, the confusion comes from trying to figure it all out. From the need to “know”.

Today the crow came to say trust; trust that part of you that is divine, that part that is connected to All That Is. With a beginners mind, take the next step presented and trust. Instead of asking for Ease and Grace, let’s give our selves the freedom to live in ease and grace. Isn’t that who we really are?

What magnifican creatures! Deer captures our attention with its beauty and grace. And the mighty stag is a symbol of the heart and is often used to represent the Goddess. When deer comes into our life they remind us to sink deep into who we really are, at our heart… that place of innocence, deep love and grace. They remind us to live in equanimity, in balance. And to spend time in meditation, facing into the depth.

Deer are one of the most adaptable mammals; they live on all but one continent and in every climate. Flexibility, adaptability is at the core of our spiritual path. To find Spirit in each moment we have to be willing to let go of every thing we think we know; to look again with wonder and curiosity. Deer medicine assists us in our ability to go with the flow. Call in Deer is you feel your getting stuck in a rut or struggling with change.

The gentleness, innocence and grace of the deer mystify many. Deer reminds us to offer gentleness and grace to others and ourselves. As we do our personal work, the work of looking within, facing our shadow, embracing our own Divinity; we must approach our selves with gentleness, compassion and grace. This stance allows us to embrace all of ourselves, even our shadow parts. Bringing us more into fullness and freedom.

Antlers are symbolic of antennae; connecting to higher realms and symbolize Higher Wisdom. Reminding us to pay attention to inner feelings, intuitions. Stags shed their antlers every year; symbolizing new perspectives and gentle growth. The antlers grow from behind the eye, further strengthening the message to pay attention to inner sight.

Our ancestors included deer in their stories and myths to represent new beginnings. Call Deer to help usher in new phases with innocence, gentleness and flexibility.

As the days shorten, leaves fall, and cold starts to creep in, we need to protect our mood, our emotional wellbeing. There are some simple acts of self-care that can help. I know, we hear self-care sometimes and kinda roll our eyes, and think yeah, yeah….. But when we are healthy, happy and hopeful; we are so much better in the world, in our relationships, in our spiritual journeys. And if we are really honest we owe it to creation, the creator, each other, ourselves to be our best highest self. So carve out some time for You as we enter a time of stillness and introspection.

Make time to get outside. As the days shorten, our time in the sun diminishes so does our vitamin D. Vitamin D is an important part of keeping our mood balanced. So in the fall and winter we need to make time to go outside when we can. Maybe take a walk at lunch. Take a break mid afternoon and just go sit in the sun for 15 mins.

Get a plant for your desk or buy yourself flowers at the grocery store. Live plants give of oxygen and help to purify the air. And bringing nature inside helps us to be more hopeful. My hubby calls our kitchen “the jungle” in the winter, but I love it! (Pic of the Jungle below.)

Carve out some time to be with friends and loved ones. Winter’s cold can cause us to stay in more, be more isolated and that loneliness can lead to the blues. So choose to spend time with people that make you smile, that both share and listen and that really get you.

Listen to music, sing or tone. Music uses more of our brain that any other activity. Music can lift our mood, change our perspective, even raise our vibration. However, be careful of the music you choose, sad music can make us sadder. So choose songs that make you feel good and sing your heart out.

Be careful of your food choices. Cold weather causes many of us to look for “comfort” foods. But too many carbs and not enough raw fruits and veggies can impact our mood.

Meditate…. Even if you start with 15 mins a day. Meditation has been scientifically proven to lower stress and improve outlook. It brings us back to center, reminds us of who we really are and why we are here on the beautiful planet. Meditation is simple, but not easy, but the effort is so worth it. You can find lots of guided meditations on the web. I use music with Bi-neural Technology. Bi-neural beats help to induce a relaxed state of mind, and who doesn’t need that.

And remember, if you feel your self struggling with depression, find a good counselor to talk to. Struggling with depression alone is never a good idea. And there is always HOPE, even when we can’t feel it.